Asian gambling market - more than just a game|en

Almost all Asian countries are currently reviewing or revising their views on the gaming industry. This is primarily due to the fact that the profits from casinos and other gambling businesses in those countries where they are legalized, is constantly growing, providing the necessary budget funds and increasing the tourist attractiveness of these countries.

The increase in demand for gambling in Asia

Asians spend on games of chance about 14 billion US dollars per year. These Asian gambling games are in the casino, and betting on horse racing, betting and lotteries, and all kinds of illegal betting. In 2010, it is expected that they will be spending for 23 billion dollars a year. First of all, the interest in gambling involved Asians in their attitude, the mentality of nations. Playing a game of chance, they are not just trying to win money - they check their luck, my fortune, and destiny. The increase in demand for gambling affects fast-growing Asian economies, population growth (especially in China), and the growth of tourism activity.

Understanding power of states

All this is to understand the power of states. They are profitable Asian gambling market, not only as budget revenues, but also as jobs for citizens, additional attraction for tourists. Speaking of Macao, a Chinese enclave, where casinos are legal and are the main income of the authorities, more than 10 million tourists who come to the main goal - to play, spend money still not only on gambling entertainment, but also the rest of the accompanying services. This is another important plus for the state. Now, many believe, if legalized casinos, they should be full-scale entertainment centers - with shops, cinemas, restaurants, exhibitions and so on.

Laws on gambling

Concerns about the social ills that, one way or another, are a consequence of gambling varies statesmen from any steps toward the revision of the laws on gambling. Some governments want to reduce the negative social impact of Asia gambling by restricting access to a casino or placing local casinos in remote areas. But this, according to experts, is not a way out of the situation as gambling Asians will simply play in clandestine gambling establishments. What happens with success in those countries where the most stringent laws regarding gambling. Or there is always the opportunity to travel to a neighboring country and leave their money there. It is particularly indicative of Thailand, where casinos are prohibited - to the border from neighboring Cambodia gambling Thais wait about 20 casinos.

Proponents of legalizing casinos and other forms of gambling argue that people who have a gambling problem, already have them. In fact, legalizing casino problems just come to the surface. And it is certainly better than not knowing what is going on.

Gambling effects

To understand how gambling affects the population, many Asian countries have conducted research in recent years; the authorities went to the world's centers of entertainment such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City to witness the necessity and inevitability of the legalization of casinos.

On the Asian gambling market claim almost all the leading casino operators. This company is owned in Las Vegas, and the international company "Casinos Austria", South African and Australian firms.

List of Asian countries operating gambling casinos

In the summer of 2004 the situation with gambling in Asian countries is composed as follows:

China: Casinos are illegal, except in the autonomous region of Macau.

Macao 12 casinos owned by tycoon Stanley Ho, a long time former monopolist in the gambling market. In 2004, it opened a casino "Sands Macau", controlled by the American company "Sands" also preparing to open a few more gambling games in Vegas-type.

India: There are a few casinos with disabilities in the western state of Goa. In 2002, the government began to consider the possibility of opening a casino in Las Vegas-type in the northern state of Punjab.

Indonesia: Casinos are prohibited, although there are a lot of underground gambling.

Japan: Casinos are illegal, but across the country vending machines type "pachinko" that the formal "entertainment" are in fact gambling. In 2003, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara proposed to legalize casinos in the city, but had not yet received the support of the federal government.

Laos has one legal casino that is "Dansavah" 60 kilometers from the capital of Laos.

Malaysia: One online casino Malaysia in the eponymous mountain terrain.

North Korea: one legal casino in the five-star hotel in Pyongyang.

South Korea: 13 legal casinos, only one of which can attend the Koreans themselves (the other for foreigners). In 2003, the revenue of the casino totaled 917 million US dollars.

Philippines: 16 legal casinos, state-owned "Pagkor" whose income in 2003 amounted to 357 million US dollars.

Singapore: Casino prohibited. Legally bet on horse racing, lotteries, and sports betting. Also, there are more than 80 private clubs, which found about 2,000 slot machines. In March 2004, the authorities started thinking about the legalization of casinos.

Taiwan: Casinos are illegal. The possibility of opening a casino in the offshore - islands of Kinmen and Peng.

Thailand Casinos are illegal. The only legal form of gambling is state lotteries and horse racing in certain places and on specific days. In March 2004, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won the support of the House of Representatives for the legalization of casinos.

Cambodia: A little more than 20 legal and semi-legal casinos, many of which are located near the Thai border in the city of Poipet.

Myanmar: On the border with Thailand five legitimate clubs with table games such as blackjack and poker as well as slot machines. Many illegal casinos are in the regions bordering with China.

Vietnam: one legal casino "Before Sleep", in the same city. There are also clubs that have a license for a limited number of board games.